Maha BJP chief confirms commitment to creating Vidarbha state

Maharashtra BJP President Raosaheb Danve has said that BJP will divide Maharashtra and carve out a separate state of Vidarbha at an 'appropriate' time.

The comments made by Danve in Shirdi will certainly add fuel to fire as the ongoing monsoon session of the state legislative council has already witnessed huge ruckus on the issue of Vidarbha statehood last week.

Shiv Sena, an ally of the BJP-led Maharashtra government, is firmly opposed to bifurcation of the state.

Last week, when BJP legislators from the Vidarbha region raised slogans in support of the statehood, senior Shiv Sena ministers rushed to counter them. Transport minister Divakar Raote almost came to blows with a couple of BJP legislators from Vidarbha.

Danve's statement on Vidarbha formation assumes significance as it has come on the heels of a stand-off between BJP and Shiv Sena in both Houses of the state legislature.

Rubbing salt into Shiv Sena's wounds, Danve has further stated that BJP's alliance with Sena is purely electoral and will have no effect on his party's firm commitment to creating Vidarbha state.

Danve's remarks in Shirdi are likely to affect the proceedings of the legislature next week.